The latency period, occurring from age six to puberty, follows the phallic stage in psychosexual development. This phase is characterized by dormant sexual feelings, leading some to view it as a period of calm rather than a formal stage. During this time, a child's energy is redirected toward non-sexual pursuits such as school, hobbies, sports, and friendships, primarily with same-sex peers. This focus on same-sex social interaction plays a key role in consolidating the child's gender-role identity.